obama. >> reporter: mr. obama urged cooperation, rare now in washington, to cut health care costs and the deficit. >> but we reject the belief that america must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will buildi its future. >> reporter: we can make progress, he said, on immigration, gay rights, climate change and school safety. a night to remember for the obamas and for the nation that re-elected the president. i'm steve handelsman, nbc news, washington. >>> president obama never used the words "democrat" or "republican" in his second inaugural address, but his political message was clear, progressive policies along with a directive for leaders that define us as individuals and as a country. >> the commitments we make to each other through medicare and medicaid and social security, these things do not sap our initiative, they strengthen us. they do not make us a nation of takers. they free us to take the risks that make this country great. we wil